williams



Nov. 17, 1959 J. L. WILLIAMS BONNETLESS GATE VALVE Original Filed Oct.10, 1955 4; T TORNE rs 24,735 BONNETLESS GATE VALVE John L. Williams,Oswego, Oreg.

Original No. 2,832,564, dated April 29, 1958, SerialNo. 539,539, October'10, 1955. Application for reissue March 26, 1959, Serial No. 802,276

Claims. (Cl. 251-326) in heavy brackets I: II appears in the forms nopart of this reissue specifiindicates the additions Matter enclosedoriginal patent but cation; matter printed in italics made by reissue.

This invention relates to gate valves and particularly to bonnetlessgate valves.

A bonnetless gate valve includes a gate blade slidably extending througha packing box into a valve body to fit against a valve seat. In orderthat the gate blade properly fit against the gate seat, the packing boxand the seat must be aligned with one another. Heretofore, alignment ofthe box and the seat has been obtained by machining them into alignment,or by providing a complicated jig to so hold them while the box iswelded in place. Both operations are time consuming and expensive.

In my prior copending application entitled Stock Valve, Serial No.248,030, filed September 24, 1951, which has matured into Patent No.2,720,379, I have disclosed a stock valve having a packing box unitslidably and adustably mounted in the valve body to overcome theabovementioned objections.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a bonnetlessgate valve having an adjustable packing box unit, which gate valve issimpler in construction than my prior valve.

In the valve of the present invention, there is a unique packing boxdevice in which the usual follower or packing gland is eliminated, andthe box is inverted and has the packing thereof pressed against theupper edges of the valve body by a box mounting means which provides foradjustment or shifting movement of the box relative to the valve body.Thus, the box may be shifted to a position where a desired alignment isestablished between the box and the valve seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bonnetless gate valvewhich has a considerably simpler packing assembly than prior bonnetlessgate valves. More specifically, it is an object to provide a bonnetlessgate valve having a packing box which is separate from the body andwhich is in an inverted position relative to the position normallyoccupied by the packing box of a gate valve, which inverted box pressespacking against the body and blade to form effective seals therewith.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a bonnetlessgate valve in which the packing assembly, through which the bladeextends, includes a gland which is not a specially added part but isprovided by an essentially uniform integral continuation of the tubularchest of the body, and in which there is a separate inverted packing boxhaving walls surrounding the gland and pressing packing against saidgland.

Various other objects of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an end elevation of a valve embodying the concepts of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical midsectional view through the valve disclosed inFig. 1; and

Re. 24,735 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 "ice Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view insection taken along lines 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the valve includes a pair ofannular flanges 1 having a pair of upwardly projecting portions 2 for apurpose to presently appear. A ring 3 is secured within the left-handflange 1, as the parts are shown in Fig. 2, and a heavier ring 4 issecured within the right-hand flange 1. A pair of valve chest plates 5are secured on the inner faces of the flanges 1 and have semicircularlyrecessed lower ends secured to the associated rings 3 and 4. A U-shapedband 6 is secured between the side edges of the valve chest plates 5 andbetween the lower portions of the rings 3 and 4. The valve chest plateand the U-shaped band define a gate blade channel.

A gate blade 2-1 projects into the gate blade channel of the valve body,which valve body may be considered as including the flanges 1, the chestplates 5, the band 6 and the rings 3 and 4. Thte gate blade has theright-hand side surface thereof, as the parts are depicted in Fig. 2,disposed in sliding sealing engagement with a valve seat provided by thering 4 to control the flow of fluid through the valve. As shown in Fig.2, the seat projects into the gate blade channel to space the blade fromthe valve chest plate closest the seat. It is apparent that the blade issufficiently thinner than the corresponding dimension of the gate bladechannel that the blade is also spaced from the other valve chest plate.This means that a blade may assume various positions within the channelto assure that the blade seats properly against the seat withoutinterference by the chest plates. The rings 3 and 4 together with theband 6 may be considered as providing a fluid passage through the valve.

An arcuate backing member 7 is secured to the inner surface of ring 3but has free end portions 7a bent to engage the gate blade 21 and pressit against the seat provided by the ring 4. This arcuate backing memberforms the subject matter of my application entitled Stock Valve HavingYieldable Gate Engaging Elements, Serial No. 423,114, filed April 14,1954, which has now become abandoned in favor of continuationapplication entitled Stock Valve Having Yieldable Gate EngagingElements, Serial No. 748,030, filed July 11, 1958.

Surrounding the portion of the gate blade projecting from the valve bodyis a packing box unit, which includes an inverted box provided by arectangular loop 8 and a top plate '9. The loop comprises side walls andend walls. The box contains packing 20 which is pressed into engagementwith the upper edges of the chest portion of the valve body, that is, inengagement with the upper edges of the chest plates 5 and the upper endsof the U-shaped band 6. It is apparent from the above that plates 5 andthe spacer strip on bond 6 form a tubular chest, and that the uppermargin of this chest provides a packing gland which is an essentiallyuniform integral continuation of the adjacent chest walls and thus'thegland is not a specially added part. Preferably, the upper margins ofthe chest plates 5 are bent outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and it willbe noted that these edges are disposed in spaced relation to the box 8,9. This provides for lateral shifting movement 'or adjustment of the boxrelative to the valve body. The justmentioned edges may be considered asan upstanding rib surrounding the gate blade. This rib is spaced fromthe blade to enable the gate blade to assume a position at which projectstuds 10 which are securedat their lower.

1 ends by I walls of the body.

11 to the valve body. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, there is clearancebetween the studs and the slots 9a to provide for shifting movement oradjustment of the packing box unit relative to the valve body. Nuts 10aare threaded on the upper ends of the studs 10 and force the packing boxunit downwardly to press the packing 20 into engagement with'the upperedges of ,the

chest portion of the valve body. 'It is apparent that thenuts 10a andthe fixed mounting means in the form of the studs 10 provide meanswhereby when the box is pulled downwardly toward the body to indent therib into the packing, the box will be held in its adjusted or desiredposition; The boxon one hand and the valve seat and the backing means onthe other hand define a line of movement of the blade to insure that theblade will properly seat against the seat during repeated opening andclosing movement thereof.

A pair of arms 12 have their lower ends secured by bolts 18 to theupward projecting portions 2 of the valve flanges 1. The upperends ofthearrns 12, are connected together by a yoke hub 13, there being ahandwheel 14 having'a nut 15 rotatably mounted on the hub 13. A valvestem 16 threadedly extends through the nut 15 and is connected by aclevis and bolt arrangement at 17 to i the upper end of the gate blade21. v

With the valve of the present invention, it is unnecessary to beconcerned with any critical alignment between a valve seat and' a fixedpacking box as heretofore has been necessary. When the valve tion isassembled, the nuts 10a are left loose until after the gate blade 21 hasbeen moved to its fully closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, where thefingers 7a press the gate blade into proper tight sealing engagementwith the valve seat provided by the ring 4. During this time the packingbox unit may freely shift relative to the valve body to bring it to theproper position for the desired fit vof the gate blade against the valveseat. Thereafter the nuts10a may be tightened to maintain this positionof the packing box unit. In the event of wear between the gate blade andthe valve seat, the nuts 10a maybe loosened and the gate blade permittedto assume a tight sealing position against the valve seat whereupon thenuts 10a may again be tightened. I

The particular valve shown is ideally suited for handling paper stock.An inexpensive valve for handling corrosive liquids may readily beprovided by forming the chest plates 5, the band 6, the rings 3 and 4,the backing member 7 and the gate blade 21 of corrosion resistant metalsuch. as stainless steel. The heavy flanges can be made of mild steel orother noncorrosion resistant metal, and these flanges serve to reinforcethe relatively thin but expensive chest plates. 1 It is pointed out thatthe unique packing gland construction of the present invention is suitedfor gate blades that are loosely received by the body and also bladesthat are tightly received, since the box may assume the posi tiondemanded by the location of the blade. It is pointed out however thatwhen the body loosely receives the blade, the blade may assume a properseating engagement with the seat without interference by the remainingHaving described the invention in what is considered to be the preferredembodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that theinvention is not other than by the provisions of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A gatevalve comprisinga valve body having a fluid passagetherethrough, a valve seat on the body,.agate blade projecting into thevalve body for engagement with said valve seat to control the flow offluid throughasaid passage, said valve body providing a continuous'portion surrounding said gate blade at the place where. thegate bladeprojects from the valve body,

unit including a box separate frorn'said body and-having of the presentinven a recess facing in the direction of said body and packing in saidrecess engaging said continuous portion to form a seal therewith, andmeans providing for adjustment of said box in a direction normal to theplane of said blade to facilitate proper seating of said blade againstsaid valve seat.

2. A gate valve comprising a valve body having a fluid passagetherethrough, a valve seat on said body, a gate blade projecting intosaid body for engagement with said valve seat to control the flow offluid through said passage, a packing box unit including an invert'edbox having side walls and an end wall, said endwall having a slot formedtherein in spaced relation to said side Walls and through which;saidblade extends, said end wall being disposed remote from said valvebody, pack ing within said box facing said valve body, said valve bodyhaving a continuous rib portion surrounding said gate blade atthe placewhere said blade projects'from said valve body, and means for forcingsaid packing box unit toward said valve body to force said packingintoengagement with said continuous rib portion, the edges of said packingbox adjacent said continuous rib portion being disposed in spacedrelation with respect thereto to provide for lateral shifting movementof said box relative to said body to a position wherein a desired alignment is established between said box and the valve seat.

3. A gate valve comprising a valve body having a fluid passagetherethrough, a valve seat on said body, a gate blade projecting intosaid body for engagement with; said valve seat to control the flow offluid through said passage, a packing box unit having an opening throughwhich said blade projects, said pac 'ng box unit includ-' ing aninverted box, packing within said box facing said valve body, said valvebody having a continuous rib 'surrounding said gate blade at the placewhere said blade projects from said valve body, and means for forcingsaid packing box unit toward said valve body to force said packing intosealing engagement with said rib, the edges of said packing box adjacentsaid rib being disposed in spaced relationsurrounding said rib toprovide for shifting movement of said box relative to said body t'oa'position wherein a desired alignment is established between said box andthe valve seat, said means adjustably connecting said packing box tosaid body to provide for shifting movement of said packing box unit in adirection normal to the direction of movement of said gate blade at atime when said means is in a condition releasing said packing from tightengagement with said rib.

4. A gate valve comprising a valve body having a fluid passagewaytherethrough, a valve seat in said body, a gate blade for seatingagainst said seat and having a portion projecting from said body, saidbody providing an upstanding edge around said blade portion, a packingbox separate from said body and surrounding said blade porsaid bladeagainst said valve seat.

to be limited a packing box unit surrounding said blade at said place,said packingwbox 5. A gate valve comprising a valve body having afluid.- passageway therethrough, a gate blade having a portion withinsaid body and a portion projecting from said body, said body providingan upstanding edge around said blade at the place said blade projectsfrom said body, a packing box separate from said body and surroundingsaid blade, packing carried by said box engaging said edge, and meansproviding for adjustment of said box and thus the packing carriedthereby in a direction normal-to the plane of said blade to enable saidblade to be arranged in a predetermined relation with respect to saidvalve body.

6. Agate valve comprisinga valve body having a flow passage, 21 valveseat in said body, a gate blade for seating against said seat and havinga portion projecting from said body, an inverted packing box separatefrom. said body and surrounding said blade at the place it projects?from said body, packing carried by said box and engaging said body insurrounding relation to said blade at said place, and means providingfor adjustment of said box and thus the packing carried thereby in adirection normal to the plane of said blade to facilitate proper seatingof said blade against said valve seat.

7. A gate valve comprising a valve body having a fluid passagetherethrough, a gate blade having a portion Within said body and aportion projecting from said body, an inverted packing box separate fromsaid body and surrounding said blade at the place said blade projectsfrom said body, packing carried by said box and engaging said body insurrounding relation to said blade at said place, and means providingfor adjustment of said box and thus the packing carried thereby in adirection normal to the plane of said blade to enable said blade to bearranged in a predetermined position relative to said valve body.

-8. A gate valve comprising a valve body having a fluid passagetherethrough including a valve seat, a gate blade projecting into thevalve body engageable with said seat to control the flow of fluidthrough said passage, said valve body providing a continuous upstandingrib surrounding said gate blade at the place where the blade projectsfrom said valve body, an inverted packing box separate from said bodyand surrounding said blade at the place said blade projects from saidbody, said box having side walls and end walls and a top wall, said sideand end walls being dimensioned to provide a lower margin overlappingthe rib, said top wall being remote from said body and having a slotthrough which said blade extends, said side and end walls being spacedfrom said blade to provide a packing recess, and packing occupying saidrecess and surrounding said blade and en-' gaging said rib, and meansfor forcing said box and its packing toward said body to efiect a sealbetween said packing and said rib.

9. A bonnetless gate valve comprising a body having a: flow passageformed therethrough, said body being formed with a gate blade channel ofnarrow elongate cross section intersecting said flow passage, a valveseat on said body, a gate blade having a portion in said channel and aportion projecting from said channel exteriorly of said body, said bladebeing seated against said seat, said seat projecting into said channelto space said blade from the wall of said channel adjacent said seat,said blade having a thickness sufficiently less than the correspondingdimension of said channel that the blade is also spaced from theopposite wall of said channel so that said blade may seat against saidseat and may assume various positions within said channel withoutinterference by the walls of said channel, backing means for urging saidblade into engagement with said seat, arms fixedly connected to saidbody and extending away therefrom, operating means on the ends of saidarms remote from said body and connected to said blade for moving saidblade between open and closed positions with respect to said flowpassage, the upper end of said channel being defined by a rib to serveas a packing gland, said packing gland rib surrounding said blade inspaced relation thereto at least in a direction normal to the plane ofsaid blade, an inverted packing box separate from said body, said boxbeing of elongate form and surrounding said blade, said box having sideand end walls and a top wall remote from said body, said side and endwalls forming a loop greater than that formed by said packing gland riband extending toward said body an extent to overlap said packing glandrib, the loop of said box side and end walls being sufiiciently largerthan the loop of the packing gland rib that at least the side walls ofsaid box are disposed in spaced relation with respect to said rib, saidtop wall having a slot through which said blade extends, said side andend walls being spaced from said blade to provide a packing recess,packing surrounding said blade, said packing being compressed withinsaid recess against said blade and the 6 inner surfaces of said box sothat with respect to the box and blade, the lateral position of each isdetermined by the location of the other, threaded elements fixedlysecured to said body and projecting upwardly therefrom and extendingloosely through oversize openings in partions of said box to provide foradjustment of said blade and said box relative to said body in adirection normal to said blade, said seat and backing means on one handand said box on the other providing spaced guide means for said blade toestablish the line of movement of said blade so that by properlylocating said box, said blade will properly seat against said seat, andmeans for maintaining an adjusted position of said box comprising nutsthreaded on the upper ends of said threaded elements to engage said boxto force said box toward said body and cause said packing gland rib toindent into said packing to hold said box in its adjusted position.

10. A bonnetless gate valve comprising a body having a flow passageformed therethrough, said body being formed with a gate blade channel ofnarrow elongate cross section intersecting said flow passage, said bodyin cluding inlet and outlet plates separated by a spacer strip atcertain of their edges to at least in part define said channel, a valveselai in said body, a gate blade having a portion in said channel and aportion projecting from said channel exteriorly of said body, said bladebeing seated against said seat, said seat projecting into said channelto space said blade from the wall of said channel adjacent said seat,said blade having a thickness sufficiently less than the correspondingdimension of said channel that the blade is also spaced from theopposite wall of said channel so that said blade may seat against saidseat and may assume various positions within said channel withoutinterference by the walls of said channel, backing means for urging saidblade into engagement with said seat, arms fixedly connected to saidbody and extending away therefrom, operating means on the ends of saidarms remote from said body and connected to said blade for moving saidblade between open and closed positions with respect to said flowpassage, the end portions of said inlet and outlet plates and spacerstrip which are in the form of a loop serving as a packing gland, saidpacking gland surrounding said blade in spaced relation thereto at leastin a direction normal to the plane of said blade, an inverted packingbox separate from said body, said box being of elongate form andsurrounding said blade, said box having side and end walls and a topwall remote from said body, said side and end walls forming a loopgreater than that formed by said packing gland and extending toward saidbody an extent to overlap said packing gland, the loop of said box sideand end walls being sufiiciently larger than the loop of the packinggland so that at least the side walls of said box are disposed in spacedrelation with respect to said packing gland, said top wall having a slotthrough which said blade extends, said side and end walls being spacedfrom said blade to provide a packing recess, packing surrounding saidblade, said packing being compressed within said recess against saidblade and the inner surfaces of said box so that with respect to the boxand blade, the lateral position of each is determined by the location ofthe other, threaded elements fixedly secured to said body and projectingupwardly therefrom and extending loosely through oversize openings inportions of said box to provide for adjustment of said blade and saidbox relative to said body in a direction normal to said blade, said seatand backing means on one hand and said box on the other providing spacedguide means for said blade to establish the line of movement of saidblade so that by properly locating said box, said blade will properlyseat against said seat, and means for maintaining an adjusted positionof said box comprising nuts threaded on the upper ends of said threadedelements to engage said box to force said box toward said body and Causesaid packing gland to indent into said packing to hold said box in itsadjusted position.

11. A bonnetless gate valve comprising a body having said body, saidblade being seated against said seat, said seat projecting into saidchannel to space said blade from the wall of said channel adjacent saidseat, said blade having a thickness sufficiently less than thecorresponding dimension of said channel that the blade is also spacedfrom the opposite wall of said channel so that said blade may seatagainst said seat and may assume various positions within said channelwithout interference by the walls of said channel, means connected tosaid blade for moving said blade between open and closed positions withrespect to said flow passage, the upper end of said channel beingdefined by a rib which is in the form of a loop to serve as a packinggland, said packing gland rib surrounding said blade in spaced relationthereto at least in a direction normal to the plane of said blade, aninverted packing box separate from saidbody, said box being of elongateform and surrounding said blade, said box having side and end walls anda top wall remote from said body, said side and end walls forming a loopgreater than that formed by said packing gland rib and extending towardsaid body to suchan extent to overlap said packing gland rib, the loopof said box side and end walls being sufiiciently larger than the loopof the packing gland rib that at least the side walls of said box aredisposed in spaced relation with respect to said rib, said top wallhaving a slot through which said blade extends, said side and end wallsbeing spaced from said blade to provide a packing recess, packingsurrounding said blade, said packing being compressed. within saidrecess against said blade and the inner surfaces of said box so thatwith respect to the box and blade, the lateral position of each isdetermined by the location of the other, means connecting said box andbody and providing for adjustment of said blade and box relative to saidbody in a direction normal tosaid blade and maintaining an adjustedposition of said box by forcing said box toward said body and causingsaid packing gland rib to indent intosaid packing to hold said box inits adjusted position.

12. A bonnetless gate valve comprising a body having a flow passageformed therethrough,'said body having a tubular chest of elongate crosssection providing a gate blade channel intersecting said flow passageand having a mouth remote from said flow passage, a valve seat in saidbody, a gate blade having a portion in said channel and a portionprojecting from the mouth of said channel exteriorly of said body, saidblade being seated against said seat, said seat projecting into saidchannel to space said blade from the wall of said channel adjacent saidseat, said blade having a thickness sufiiciently less than thecorresponding dimension of said channel that the blade is also spacedfrom the opposite wall of said channel so that said blade may seatagainst said seat and, may assume various positions within said channelwithout interference by the walls of said channel, means connected tosaid blade for moving said blade between open and closed positions withrespect to said flow passage, backing box being of elongate form andsurrounding said. blade} said box'having side and end walls and a topwall re-" mote from-said body, said side and end wallsforming; a loop.greater than'that formed by said-packing gland; and extending towardsaid body an extent to overlap said; packing gland, the loop of said boxside vand end walls: being sufliciently larger than the loop of thepacking gland thatat least the side walls of said box are disposed inspaced relation with respect to said packing glandjs'aid top wall havinga slot through which said blade Textends, said side and end walls beingspaced from said blade to provideapacking recess, packing surroundingsaid blade, said packing being compressed within said re-i cess againstsaid blade and the inner surfaces of said box' so that with respect tothe box and blade, thelateral posi-" tion'of each is determined bythelocation'of the other,-.

means connecting said box and body and providing for adjustment of saidblade and box relative to said body in a direction normal to said bladeand forcing said box toward said body and causing said packing gland toindent into said packing. v

13. In a bonnetless gate valve, a body having a fluid flow passageintersecting a blade channel, a gate blade loosely1extending into saidchannel and engaging a seat projecting intosaid channel, a rib on saidbody surrounding said blade, a packing box separate from said bodyandhaving packing surrounding said blade and engaging said rib, certainwalls of said box loosely surrounding said rib and-said rib beingspacedfrom said blade so that said'boxa'nd blade may be located indifferentlaterala said blade southat the packing forms fluid seals with both saidrib and said blade. v i

14. In a bonnetless gate valve, a body having a fluid flow passageintersecting a gate blade channel, a gate blade loosely extending intosaid channel and engaging a seat projecting into said channel, a rib onsaid body surrounding said blade, a packing box separate from said bodyand having packing surrounding said blade and engaging said rib, certainwalls of said box loosely surrounding said rib and said rib being spacedfromsaid blade so that said box and blade may be located in differentlateral positions relative to said body to facilitate proper seating ofsaid blade against said seat, fixedbox mounting means on said body,releasable connecting means for selectively immovably conecting saidvboacand said fixed mounting means in various lateral positions of.

said box relative to said body to enable said box to be locatedlaterally relative to said body in a position at which said bladeproperly seats against said seat and to be maintained in such position,said releasable connecting means being operable to pull said box towardsaid body to compress said packing against said rib to force saidpacking against said blade so that the packing forms fluid seals withboth said ribs and said blade.

15. A bonnetless gate valve comprising a valve body in-'- cludingspacedbody plates in part defining a gate blade channel which intersects aflow passage in'said body, bolting flanges secured to the outer faces ofsaid body plates, said plates being thin as compared to said flanges andprojecting beyond said flanges in a predetermined direc--'.

tion, a gate blade movably received between said body plates andprojecting beyond said plates in said direction,

an inverted packing box separate from said body and sure.

rounding said blade and having side 'walls and end walls and a top wallwhich is remote'from said body and through which said blade extends,said side walls and end. walls extendingtoward said body in overlappingrelation,

with the outer surfaces of the projecting portions of said body plates,packing in said box engaging the edges of the projecting portions ofsaid body plates whereby said plates function as packing gland portions,fixed box mounting means on said body, releasable connecting means forselectively immovably connecting said box and said fixed mounting meansin various lateral positions of said box relative to said body to enablesaid box to be located laterally relative to said body in a position atwhich said properly seats against said seat to be maintained in suchposition, said connecting means being operable for pulling said boxtoward said body to compress said packing against said packing glandportions and said blade, arms fixedly secured to said bolting flangesand projecting away therefrom in said direction, operating means on theremote ends of said arms and connected to said blade for moving thesame.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,567 Riley Dec. 15, 1936 10 2,669,416 HiltonFeb. 16, 1954 2,720,379 Williams Oct. 11, 1955

